Melissa Stark's Interview With Shani Davis

by Robert Kelly

Was something amiss in Shani Davis’ interview with NBC after his gold medal performance?

Many out there think so, and as usual, so do I.

When Melissa Stark interviewed Davis after his gold medal performance, it was obvious to many that something was not right.

Davis answered in short statements and looked away when she interviewed him.

Stark even asked him if he was mad about something. He replied “No, I am very happy about winning.”

As the interview concluded, he turned to walk away, looked at his coach and support staff, and started smiling and laughing. You had to look quick to catch it, be he did do it.

Was he playing games and showing his attitude during the interview? Only Shani knows.

If he was nervous, as some out there have expressed, then why did he smile and laugh when he turned away?

But if this young man expects to capitalize on his achievement, he needs to get some training in public relations and embracing the masses; because it is clear to me he just doesn’t get it.

Figure Skating Gold Medalist Yevgeny Plushenko In Fender Bender

by Chris Price

I HOPE HIS GOLD MEDAL HAD IT'S SEAT BELT ON!

Hours after winning the men's figure skating title by a huge margin Thursday, Russian gold medalist Yevgeny Plushenko was involved in a car accident on the way to the airport Friday morning.

On Plushenko's Web site, his agent, Ari Zakarian, said Plushenko was trying to catch a flight to St. Petersburg, Russia, from Milan so he could attend a celebration that St. Petersburg was holding in his honor.

Plushenko was traveling with his coach and his choreographer; a representative of a Russian Olympic team sponsor was driving, Zakarian said. No one was injured.

Plushenko will be back in Turin in time for the exhibition skate next Friday, Zakarian said.

Now imagine if he had been riding in a car in Houston headed for the airport. With all the Houston traffic, he may not have made his plane.

Shani Davis Could Have Raced....says Eric Heiden

By Robert H. Kelly
Five time Olympic gold medalist Eric Heiden stated in an interview with NBCOlympics.com that speed skater Shani Davis could have participated in the team pursuit event with very little trouble.

That's a tough call. I think it would have been very easy to participate and come back well rested for the 1000m, and maybe even to use that race as training. The biggest thing is experience. He missed the opportunity to race here at the World Cup event in December, so other skaters have the sense of what it's like to race here -- at race speed. In the pursuit, you're skating fast laps, so it would have given him a sense of what it's going to be like for the 1000m. It just would have helped to get a race under his belt, since he wasn't here in December.

Heiden, who is a USA team physician, further elaborated on Davis’ decision.

From a fatigue standpoint, I can’t imagine that a race on Wednesday, only one round, would limit his ability to race in the 1000m on Saturday. That’s a long time. Physically, I think he was more capable of doing both. And he missed a great opportunity to test the ice at race speed.

What does Eric Heiden know? He only won five gold medals in speed skating in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. He is the team physician for the USA speed skating team, and without a doubt knows more about speed skating that anyone on the planet.

He is the best speed skater in the history of the sport and he won his five gold medals on an outdoor track that was built for the 1932 Olympics.

Could Shnai Davis have accomplished the same feat?

The world will never know, but I think not.

Shani Davis Wins Olympic Gold Medal, But At What Price?

by Robert H. Kelly

Shani Davis won the 1000 meter event in speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympic in Turin, Italy.

AOL has a poll on its web site to select the biggest star for the USA up to this point at the Olympics.

Davis is winning with fifty-three percent of the vote.

Does anyone recall that this guy ditched his teammates earlier in the week by “choosing” not to participate in the team pursuit event? That decision perhaps cost the USA a medal.

Davis was quoted in saying,

"A lot of these people haven't even skated as long as me..... I'll be pretty upset if people got upset about my decisions and what I feel is best for me because all in all, I know what's best for me. ... I worked to get here. None of my teammates helped me get to where I am.”

Davis and his mother have had an acrimonious relationship with US Speedskating and a sometimes tenuous rapport with his teammates.

USA gold medalist Chad Hedrick was quoted prior to the team pursuit race,

"We'd have a really, really good chance if Shani skated…but I'm not going to beg Shani to skate the pursuit with me.”

This is just another case of an athlete placing himself above his team and teammates.

How can we celebrate an athlete for his performance when he acts like that?

He won a gold medal at the Olympics, but his attitude and commitment to his country and his teammates speak volumes about him.

Those volumes add to the negativity of him and lessen his achievement.

Will the athletes of the 21st century even learn? Learn that the team is more important that the individual.

Count me as one who will not celebrate this athlete’s performance. I am sure there are many more who feel the same.

USA Snowboarder "Hotdogs" To Silver Medal

by Robert H. Kelly

USA’s Lindsey Jacobellis lost the gold medal by pulling a stunt with her board in the final leg of the women’s snowboarding cross at the Winter Olympic in Turin, Italy.

Grabbing her board as she was jumping the final hill, she fell and allowed the second place boarder to pass her and "take" the gold medal.

She was hot-dogging it and it cost her the gold medal. In her interview with NBC after the event, she said she had no regrets.

If you have not noticed in the past 10 years or so, the IOC has been adding new sports and some of them, IMHO, are attempts to gain new viewers and money to the Olympic movement.

Snowboarding was one of these sports. Does the Olympic movement need the influx of this type of sport when “HOT-DOGGING” is the norm? That is a question that some are asking.

Women's ice hockey? OK, I can see it. Snowboarding???? My decision is still out whether that was a good move or not. The USA has won most of the medals, but who else in the world does it as much as Americans.

The kid who won the half pipe seemed pleasant enough, but he is also a skateboarder, and some are proposing adding skate boarding the Olympic program.

NBC is keying in on these newest Olympians, and it may be hurting their coverage.

Bode Miller...GIVE ME A BREAK...He hasn't won yet, and is suppose to be our best skier.

Seems our little girl snowboarder got caught up in the moment! Her moment in the spotlight, and she BLEW IT.

What happened to the days went it was an honor to represent your country in the Olympics. If I had been that young ladies coach, I would have certainly said something to her about her performance and attitude in that race.

Give me the days when the USA and the USSR battled in the Olympics. Could you see any Olympian today refusing their medal like the 1972 USA basketball team did? Very few, I think...Most are only concerned with their own performance and what the Olympic Games CAN DO FOR THEM!!!!!

I will not even comment on Shani Davis’ decision not to skate in the team pursuit, a decision that cost the USA a gold medal. At least not right now.

Kwan Withdraws From Winter Olympics

Michelle Kwan withdrew from the 2006 Winter Olympic Games this morning.

IT IS A SHAME!!!

She has given so much to the sport of figure skating, and to have her latest quest end like this makes one wonder.

I am very fortunate that I met her at the 1994 US Olympic Festival in St. Louis. I can still remember that meeting today as I watch her of USA Network's Olympic Ice show.

She tried to hold back her tears as she spoke of her decision. After a while, one could see a few tears flowing down her face. As a former athlete and a current coach, I do know how she felt.

She spoke about being honest with herself and her love for her sport. She stated she wanted the best for the sport.

She stated she was going home to California and would support and cheer for the USA from there. She added she didn't want to stay and be a distraction.

What a class act!!! I knew that fact when I first met her. Why can't all athletes be like that? It would make sport a whole lot better.

I bid Michelle farewell, but not goodbye. She WILL be back. In what capacity, I cannot say. She is needed in the world of sport. The USA, Olympics, and the world are a much place with her.

Hedrick Wins 5000 Meter Speedskating Gold Medal

Spring, Texas' favorite son, Chad Hedrick, won the gold medal in the 5000 meter speedskating event in the Oval Lingotto at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Hedrick skated in the 12th of fourteen pairs, and his winning time of 6:14.68 was 1.72 seconds ahead of silver medalist Sven Kramer of The Netherlands.

The gold was the first of the Games for the USA and kept Hedrick on track to match Eric Heiden's five gold medals from the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York.

Texas just keeps producing world class athletes. Even a lack of snow in Texas doesn't hinder it's citizens for excelling in winter sports.

Taylor Takes Gold at Four Continents Championship

By Robert H. Kelly

Houston’s Katy Taylor won the gold medal in the ladies event at the 2006 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The event, which was the final international event leading up to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, was Taylor’s first senior-level international event. She was in second place after the short program and placed second in the free skate with a total score of 164.05.

Japan’s Yukari Nakano, the silver medalist, received a mark of 161.49, while Taylor’s U.S. teammate, Bebe Liang, captured the bronze medal with a score of 159.91.

“I just wanted to go out there and do two good skates, and I did,” said Taylor.

“I was really upset about missing my loop because it is one of my best jumps,” Taylor said. “I felt good going into it. I think I just pre-rotated myself, but I know I wasn’t holding back. I think next time I can get it.”

Twenty-three ladies took part in the free skate, including Christine Zukowski of the United States, who struggled to a score of 131.42 and a 10th-place finish.

It looks like the young Houstonian is on track to making the 2010 Olympic team.

Hays Named to Olympic Bobsled Team

by Chris Price

(Lake Placid NY-January 17, 2006) The United States Bobsled and Skelton Federations have nominated Todd Hays, of Del Rio, Texas, to the United States Olympic Committee for consideration to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.

Hays will be making his third trip to the Games, after winning a silver medal as part of the four man bobsled team in 2002. He also competed in the two man event, placing fourth with teammate Garrett Hines.

He finished the 2004-2005 season ranked ninth in the two man event, sixth in the four man event and seventh in the combined World Cup standings.

He graduated from the University of Tulsa with a degree in physical education in 1994, after a stellar career in football. He was also the 1993 National Kickboxing champion.

Hays will be joined on the team by Pavle Jovanovic (Tom’s River, NJ), Steve Mesler (Buffalo, NY), Brock Kreitzburg (Akron, OH), Steve Holcomb (Park City, UT), Bill Schuffenhauer (Salt Lake City, UT), Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, NE), Lorenzo Smith III (Kankakee, IL) and Randy Jones (Atlanta, GA).

Ellis Named To USA Olympic Skeleton Team

By Robert H. Kelly

(Lake Placid, NY-January 15, 2006) The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation have announced that Kevin Ellis of Dallas, Texas has been nominated in the sport of skeleton for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.

The United States Olympic Committee will review the nominations and make the final decision on his participation in the Games.

Zach Lund, of Salt Lake City, Utah and Eric Bernotas of Avondale, Pennsylvania were also nominated to the team.

As a result of the USA being ranked second overall in World Cup points, they were allowed to nominate three male athletes.

All three men will be making their Olympic debut in Turin.

Ellis, a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, began sliding in 1999.

His best finish in a world class event was a second place finish in the America’s Cup race Calgary, Canada in November, 2004.

Ellis uses his experience in track and field to give him an advantage at the start.

He holds many start records in both the United Sates and around the world.

He was ranked twenty-fourth in the world for the 2005 season.

TAYLOR TAKES FOURTH AT NATIONALS

By Robert H. Kelly

Katy Taylor, a junior at Katy’s Mayde Creek High School, finished in fourth place Saturday night at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis.

She scored 103.85 points in the long program, giving her automatic bid to the 2007 Nationals and kept her on pace for a 2010 Olympic bid.

Taylor skated well, but fell on her triple salchow and left out the second half of her closing triple lutz-double toe loop combination.

“I came here wanting to have two good skates, and to be standing on the podium is just icing on the cake,” she said.

Sasha Cohen took top honors with the score of 134.03, easily outscoring all other opponents, followed by Kimmie Meissner (116.01) and Emily Hughes (106.61).

The evening had to be bittersweet for Hughes, who was bumped from the Olympic squad to make room for an injured Michelle Kwan.

Kwan petitioned the U.S. Figure Skating Association for an injury waiver to compete in Turin.

The waiver was granted, making Cohen, Meisssner, and Kwan the three women who will represent the United States at the Winter Olympic Games in February.

However the fourth place finish for Taylor, who finished in ninth place at last year’s Nationals, improved her chances of representing the USA at the Olympics in four years in Vancouver.

EAST ROLLS PAST WEST IN US ARMY ALL AMERICAN BOWL

Photo by Darla Tamulitis
Story by Robert H. Kelly

Scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 67 yards, Chris Wells lead the East squad to a 27-16 victory over the West squad in the 2006 U.S. Army All American Bowl at San Antonio’s Alamodome.

Wells, a running back from Garland High School in Akron, Ohio, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, showed tremendous form and poise that will continue in the fall at Ohio State University.

“We had a good week of practice,” Wells said. “We worked on goal-line a lot and the first time we got the ball today, I think we were in the red-zone pretty quick. We knew what we had to do and we went out and did it.”The East defense set the pace for the game, causing a fumble on the West’s first drive, which lead to the first score of the game for the East.

The East put the game away in the fourth quarter when linebacker Brandon Graham blocked a field goal that was recovered by cornerback Raeshon McNeil and ran back for a touchdown.

“I pointed to my parents in the stands before that field goal,” Brandon Graham said. “I knew I was going to get that block I told coach also that I’m about to go get it. I blew right past the offensive line and got it. I can’t explain that feeling. This is something that I can take with me for the rest of my life.”

Wells, who showed the fans in attendance what they can expect to see from him at Ohio State next fall.

“It’s just a great honor for me to get the MVP,” Wells said. “Just to go out there and accept the trophy was a blast. I mean, I’m going to school at Ohio State next year with Teddy Ginn. This is just incredible.”

Previous recipients of the award include California’s DeShaun Jackson, Ohio State’s Tedy Ginn, Jr., Florida’s Chris Leak and Chris Young of the University of Texas.

Ben Johnson States "I am not a cheat"

By Robert H. Kelly

It was reported today in the Victoria, Australia newspaper HERALD SUN that Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson stated he was framed for using performance-enhancing drugs at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Johnson ran 9.87 seconds to win the 100 meters, but he was disqualified and stripped of his gold medal after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Johnson was quoted as saying,

“People can put things in your food and drinks to sabotage you, like they did to me in Seoul in 1988. I'm not a cheat -- I do what I am supposed to do to win.”

One has to wonder why he is making that statement now, when its validity didn’t hold up eighteen years ago in Seoul.

He further stated:

"People are evil. They will do anything to get rid of someone from the sport. I would say 40 per cent of people in sports are using performance-enhancing drugs. You would be surprised to see the great players of the past who retired doing stuff."

It may be he is trying to rebuild his image. Perhaps he is trying to rewrite history to make his legacy more positive. One can never truly know what is in the mind of people.

2006 College Bowl Game Predictions

January 2, 2006
Cotton Bowl-Dallas, Texas
Alabama (9-2)
Texas Tech (9-2)
Prediction: Alabama by 3 ½

Outback Bowl-Tampa, Florida
Iowa (7-4)
Florida (8-3)
Prediction: Iowa by 3

Gator Bowl-Jacksonville, Florida
Virginia Tech (10-2)
Louisville (9-2)
Prediction: Virginia Tech by 7 ½

Capital One Bowl-Orlando, Florida
Wisconsin (9-3)
Auburn (9-2)
Prediction: Auburn by 9

Fiesta Bowl-Tempe, Arizona
Ohio State (9-2)
Notre Dame (9-2)
Prediction: Notre Dame by 3

Sugar Bowl-Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (10-2)
West Virginia (10-1)
Prediction: West Virginia by 6

January 3, 2006
Orange Bowl-Miami, Florida
Penn State (10-1)
Florida State (8-4)
Prediction: Penn State by 10

January 4, 2006
Rose Bowl-Pasadena, California
Texas (12-0)
USC (12-0)
Prediction: Texas by 3

NEWS FLASH!!! Dom Capers To Be Fired As Houston Texans Head Coach On Monday

An unconfirmed report has just be announced on Sport Talk Radio 610AM in Houston that Houston Texans Head Coach Dom Capers will be fired tomorrow (Monday, January 2, 2006).

What a surprise. There should be more that just he handed a pink slip. What about the GM and many of the assistants? And can we forget some of the players? Perhaps some trades are on the horizon?

THE QUESTION!!! ARE THE TEXANS AND REGGIE BUSH A MATCH?

By Robert H. Kelly

The Houston Texans, by way of a New Year’s Day loss to the San Francisco 49ers, can earn the overall number one pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Many “experts” expect the Texans to select Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

Others wonder if this is best route for the victory challenged Texans. Another option might be to trade away their number one pick and get two or three draft choices.

Only time will tell what will happen, and by late evening on New Year’s Day, all with know if the Texans get the top pick.

One thing is guaranteed. There will be major changes in Houston for next season, and those changes may include coaches, players, and front office staff.

If Reggie Bush does become a Texans, then so be it. In any case, they need to find the right combination of talent, coaching and management to make this program work.

After all, professional sports is about winning, and the Texans found little success at that in their brief history.

TCU Defeats Iowa State at EV1.net Houston Bowl

Photo by Darla Tamulitis
Story by Robert H. Kelly

With less than six minutes left in the game, place kicker Peter LoCoco kicked a 44-yard field gold to give favored the TCU Horned Frogs a three point victory, 27-24 over the Iowa State Cyclone at the EV1.net Houston Bowl at Reliant Stadium.

TCU scored all but LaCoco’s points in the first half, after leading the Cyclones 24-17 at halftime.

In a game that was clearly affected by errors, both teams combine for twenty penalties, four fumbles, and three interceptions.

The Horned Frogs claimed an early lead when running back Robert Merrill scored on a 20-yard run that culminated a twelve play, 80-yard drive. They increased their lead with a seven yard run by tailback Aaron Brown following a Cyclone fumble.

Iowa State scrambled back in the second quarter to score seventeen unanswered points, followed by an 84-yard pass from Ballard to wide receiver Michael DePriest to allow the Horn Frogs to take back the lead 21-17.

Chris Manfredini kicked a 29-yard field goal with 15 seconds left in the half to make the score 24-17 in favor of the Horned Frogs.

The Cyclones scored again with 1:53 left in the third quarter on a 22-yard pass from Bret Meyer to Todd Blythe, followed by a Bret Culbertson conversion to tie the score at 24.

The Horned Frogs had a total of 410 yard offensively (135 yards rushing and 275 yards passing) along with being penalized fourteen times for a total of 134 yards.

The Cyclones totaled 288 yards offensively (254 yards passing and 34 yards rushing) with six penalties for 51 yards.

The victory extended TCU winning streak to ten games and gave them an 11-1 record for the season. Only Texas and USC have longer winning streaks, with 19 and 34 wins, respectively.

The Horned Frogs had more to prove than just winning a bowl title, after being snubbed by the BCS and locked out of a chance to play for a possible national championship.

TCU had faced the Cyclone twice previously in their long football history. The Horned Frog won both meetings; a 31-17 victory in the 1998 season opener and a 27-10 win in the 1995 season opener.

EV.net Houston Bowl-Third Quarter Update

by Robert Kelly

The third quarter saw little action until Iowa State mounted a six play, 53 yard drive, ending in a 22 yard touchdown pass to Todd Blythe with the PAT good to tie the score at 24 all. The scoring drive took one minute 51 seconds and left 1:53 left on the clock.

No other important action happened the in quarter.

EV1.net Houston Bowl-Halftime Update

by Robert Kelly

The first quarter of the EV1.net Houston Bowl, it is evident to everyone in the stands at Relient Stadium that TCU had come to play ball.

Touchdowns came on a 20 yard scoring run by Robert Merrill and a 7 yard run by Aaron Brown. Both one point conversionsby Chris Manfreini were good to make the score 14-0 in favor of TCU.

Iowa State showed very litttle offense in the quarter rushing for eleven yard and passing for a scant 32 yards.

TCU was 12 for 55 on the ground while completing 8 for 12 and 88 yards.

In a dramatic change of events during the second quarter, Iowa State came to life, and began to mount a comeback.

Iowa State scored seventeen points in the second quarter on a 48 yard touchdown pass from Todd Blythe to Bret Meyer to take the score to 14-7 in favor of TCU.

Two points were added on a safety at 12:50 in the quarter to take the score to 14-9 in favor of TCU.

Jon Davis scored on a six yard pass from Bret Meyer and followed with a two point conversion to take the score to 17-14 in favor of the Cyclones.

TCU then answered with an 84 yard pass from Micha Depriest to Jeff Ballard, and a one poin conversion to take the lead 21-17.

With fifteen seconds left int he half, Manafredini kicked a 29 yard field goal to take the score to TCU 24, Iowa State 17.

TCU, IOWA STATE SQUARE OFF AT EV1.NET HOUSTON BOWL

As fans from Iowa State and TCU converge on Houston for the 2005 EV1.net Houston Bowl, one can only wonder what surprises will be in store for this year's match up.

The Houston Bowl had been the scene of high caliber college football, with the added aspect that many of the players will be playing their last college game.

Those who will return next season will have the option of living up or down to their performances on this Saturday afternoon at Reliant Stadium.

TCU (10-1) is a heavy favorite, but one could not see that affecting the demeanor of the Iowa State players, coaches and staff. Iowa State (7-4) is playing in their fifth post season game in six years, while TCU is making their seventh post season appearance in eight years.

The Horned Frogs and Cyclones have met twice previously in their long football history. In 1998, TCU scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win 31-21 in Ames, Iowa. In their first meeting in 1995, TCU won 27-10 in Fort Worth.

None of this will matter at 1:30 pm on Saturday, as both teams take to the field in their attempt to take home a bowl victory and the glory and prestige that goes with it.

The game is scheduled to be telecast on ESPN2 with Dave Barnett on the play-by-play, Tim Brant on color analysis, with Suzy Shuster on the sideline.

TexSport Publications will be on hand to bring their unique perspective of the game.